SEEKING YOUR CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!
Matthew 1:1-18
INTRODUCTION: “Miracle on 34th. Street” was released in May of 1947. Edmund Gwenn won an Oscar for his portrayal of Kris Kringle, and he was the only actor to ever win an Oscar as Santa Clause. However, the first Christmas miracle is recorded in Matthew 1:18-21. The miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ birth are still as valid today as they were in the first century.
I. THE FIRST CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!
First there was the miracle of the incarnation: Matthew 1:18. There are several miracles in the Bible that are hard to understand simply because they don’t happen very often, in fact only once. A good example would be the creation of the entire animal kingdom brought into existence in one day. The Red Sea Parting so the nation of Israel could cross over on dry land. How about the impregnation of Mary without a human father? That is why Christmas is a miracle of Good News! Christmas is about the power of God to accomplish the impossible: Jeremiah 32:26-27; Luke 18:27.
II. THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF INNOCENCE!
The second Christmas miracle is the miracle of innocence. We hate to see our little ones lose their innocence because once it is lost it is lost forever. Adam and Eve were a perfect example of lost innocence: Genesis 2:18-25. After their sin their innocence was gone: Genesis 3:12; Genesis 3:13; Genesis 3:14-15. That is the first promise in the Bible of the seed of the woman Who would redeem mankind from their loss of innocence. Matthew 1:21 gives us the first step to regaining our innocence. Jesus means “Jehovah saves!” If Jesus is not the Son of God and very God, He cannot be our Savior: Hosea 13:4; Matthew 1:21. Three decades later Jesus received the punishment for all the sins of the world. You can be declared innocent again by receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior: Hebrews 10:11-18. Our God has dealt with sin in three different ways: 1. He covered mankind’s sin: Hebrews 9:13-14. 2. He cleanses our sins: Zechariah 13:1. 3. God cancels our sin: Nehemiah 10:31. Christian people are the only ones who have their sins canceled. God looks at His born-again children just as if they had never sinned: Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:5-10.
III. THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF THE INDWELLING!
The third miracle is the miracle of the indwelling of our God. Joseph was told that God would be with us: Matthew 1:22-23; Esther 9:20-23. Immanuel simply means “God with us!” God’s desire to be with His creation has never changed: John 14:16-21. A miracle happened when we chose to receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.